You currently have javascript disabled. Several functions may not work. Please re-enable javascript to access full functionality.

Welcome to the FMCA Motorhome Forums!

Create a sign-in account to gain access to all of our features. Once registered and signed in, you can create topics; post replies to existing topics; upload pictures; manage your profile; get your own private messenger; create blogs; and more. Sign up now! Already have an account? Sign in.

NEW USERS: For your login to carry over to the Forums, you must first sign in on the FMCA.com main site, log out, and then sign in again.

I know people who say that the days of the GPS are numbered and they may well be but I don't see any comparison between Google Maps and GPS. With the GPS you can set it to calculate a route based on your preferences, fastest route or shortest route. You can tell it you prefer major highways or that you want to avoid toll roads. We are currently in New Zealand. I brought my GPS with me. In a strange land with strange names for cities, towns, roads, etc. and wildly different driving conventions, the GPS has kept me sane and on the right road. Yes, Louise checks maps as we go along and can give general information but the GPS is telling me which exit to take in a round-about or rotary. So far it has missed only one time on the exit to take from the rotary. Knowing that going in relieves me of trying to look for signs, read them and then decide is that really the road that I want to take? I love the distance to next turn or destination feature, it lets me know how far away the turn is so I can slow in plenty of time to make a controlled turn. I've been using the same GPS for the car and the motor home but I plan to get a dedicated motor home GPS before we leave home this summer.

That said, when we return to the states, I plan to get an i-pad and the Jeppeson software to use for my navigation when I fly. The information it will provide will be much greater than the information that my GPS provides and updates will be easier and cost less. In this case, the paper charts are rapidly disappearing and the digital information has to be dead-on-right. Jeppeson has been doing this for years and I'll use their data. I wouldn't try to use an i-pad while driving!

After 9 1/2 years full time in our motor home and being Winter Texans we are now living at Sandpipers Resort in Edinburg, Texas. Now we are Summer Chickens!

"The tipi is much better to live in; always clean and warm in winter, cool in summer, easy to move... If the Great Spirit wanted men to live in one place he would have made the world stand still." -- Flying Hawk, South Dakota Oglala Sioux

We use a trucker's Garmin GPS that provides a view of the lanes with the one you should be in or will be exiting highlighted; maps don't do that for you. You set it with your MH heights, weights, etc. so it will avoid tunnels and low overpasses. It can be changed to auto mode to use in your toad. We find the GPS a necessary accessory in our MH.

I agree with others, we use multiple resources to plan our trip. And sometimes, we set the GPS but will defy it's audio instructions per what we saw on maps for a section or part of the trip.

I still prefer a stand alone GPS for one reason main reason. No one is going to steal it when I leave it in my car. I can't be sure that same thing would happen if I leave my tablet in the car and I don't want to carry it with me at every stop I make.

I also prefer the Garmin 2013 series vs. an RV specific unit. I can load whatever additional POI's interest me but enjoy the lane guidance and voice activation.

I am interested in purchasing a RV Navigation system for our class A Thor Motor Coach. I have read about these 7" screens:Garmin's RV 760LMT, Magellan's RV9365T-LMB and Good Sam RVND7725. Does anyone know the pros and cons of either?

Yes, many do. Search this forum, any other RV forum and the GPS forums and you will find good and bad info about them all. Keep in mind that there is no such thing as an RV GPS. All the GPS units use the same routing and base map information but some claim to adjust this information based upon the users vehicle type input. Some also have some additional RV POI's but these are also available as an add-on to nearly all GPS units.

I use my GS GPS along with MS Streets and Trips and Google Maps to plot my routes. I do not want to be caught in a situation whereby I have to try to turn around a 45 foot coach on a 2 lane road. The GPS reminds me which road I have to turn onto or where I have to turn. I suppose a printed paper would do the same, but the GPS tells me so I can concentrate on the road and hazards around me. The GPS also provides other info, miles remaining, time remaining, speed limits and changes in speed limits, if I go too fast, etc. I can also program the GPS to route me around toll roads, dirt roads, etc.

My GPS allows me to switch from RV to car when I place it in the car. This is a very nice feature because the car routing may be completely different from the RV routing.

I guess my opinion is using several resources is much better for me than relying on a single resource.

I am interested in purchasing a RV Navigation system for our class A Thor Motor Coach. I have read about these 7" screens:Garmin's RV 760LMT, Magellan's RV9365T-LMB and Good Sam RVND7725. Does anyone know the pros and cons of either?

2nuRvers

With my previous coach, I purchased a Garmin 760 with the intent to use their wireless cam system. The 760 was great. Bluetooth, voice command, quick. Problem that I had was the backup camera. The first camera wouldn't link up, so I returned it for a replacement. Same problem with the second camera. I concluded that the issue may well be the 760 itself, so I returned everything. Haven't replaced the GPS yet for the new coach.

I'm not debating whether to go with the Garmin again or to opt to go to the Magellan. Bluetooth is important to me so that I can have hands free phone use while driving (if needed). I believe both units have it. The Garmin does have voice command which is very nice. Don't think the Magellan has that. 7 inch screen is very nice. I'm leaning toward the Garmin, but there's a significant price differential between the two units (Garmin being higher priced, of course).